Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

My Sister, the Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite

261 reviews

missrosymaplemoth's review against another edition

4.0

Fun to read and fast-paced. I didn’t understand the point of a lot of the middle of the book. I also thought the ending was slightly anticlimactic. I still enjoyed it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Blood

maxlexn02's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Murder, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Death, and Injury/injury detail

twistykris's review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book is marketed as a thriller/mystery with some dark comedy, but I honestly found very little thrill or mystery. It's definitely more of a dark humor family drama. The beginning was enthralling and I really hoped that dark atmosphere would stick throughout the book, but it quickly turned into family drama, with Korede cleaning up after Ayoola and then Ayoola going after the man Korede is in love with. 

To be frank, I would have liked to know more about how Korede became the clean-up crew for Ayoola's murders. Past murders are briefly mentioned, but I was hoping to get more of a suspenseful build-up of Murder #1 looking like self-defense, with each of the following murders looking more suspicious, and Korede debating her own morals as she starts to recognize her sister as a Black Widow of sorts.

I appreciated the looks into their traumatic past, perhaps painting a picture as to why they are so close as sisters. And I could understand- to a point- Korede's frustration as the role of the oldest sister. She's in charge, she's to blame for anything happening to Ayoola, she's the protector and the role model. As the oldest sister: I get it. A lot of pressure and blame gets thrust on to us, regardless of our involvement or not.

I acknowledge that not every ending is a "good" or "happy" ending. Sometimes, the best ending is one that leaves you angry, frustrated, shaking your head in disappointment. This is one of those books. 

Spoiler

I really was disappointed that Korede just fell in line behind her sister, continuing to cover for her, to never spill their secrets, even after the man she loved was falsely accused. But also, screw Tade for not believing her anyways. I understand the idea being that blood is blood, and to be a sister is to protect her at all costs. And Korede will follow Ayoola to the ends of the earth for her.

 

However, still a fun listen (~4 hours) and would recommend, even if I am disappointed in the lack of thrills or suspense.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Infidelity

fraise's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Medical content

Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Classism, Drug use, and Animal death

tatjanasbooks's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Pedophilia

elaureads's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death

Minor: Drug use and Death of parent

psistillreadyou's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Child abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexism

Minor: Drug abuse and Sexual assault

emilyreads15's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wasn’t super excited to read this book as it’s not something I would normally pick out. However, it was chosen for my book club so I gave it a chance. It started off really well, I thought it was unique and interesting. I also really loved the short chapters and fast paced. However, at times the short chapters were too short and choppy. The book skipped around a lot but I didn’t hate it. I thought the author’s writing style was pretty good and I was really hoping for some big twist or something exciting to happen. That would have made this a 4 or 4.5 star read. Unfortunately I was deeply disappointed when the ending ended up not being good at all. I hated it and it was boring but I shouldn’t have expected something so big from a book that was so short. By the time I got half way through and nothing really happened I could tell nothing would. I’m pretty disappointed with this read. Hopefully my next one is better.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Death

Moderate: Physical abuse, Blood, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, and Murder

Minor: Drug use and Adult/minor relationship

notapenguin's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Child abuse, and Death of parent

nightfell's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I moderately enjoyed this book, but I wanted more from it. Maybe the way it was marketed to me (by tiktok) was why it felt anticlimactic, but I was expecting more female rage, more anger, emotion, development from the main character but she barely reacted to the events unfolding around her and by the end of the story, it was made clear that she always would, because of her role as the eldest sister; her sister is her responsibility and will always be. Her sister also never changes, the novel is more a look into their lives at the time it is set. 

But I did like some aspects of the book, such as her frustration with her sister which links into their relationship with their father and her relationship with Tade.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Murder, and Medical content

Minor: Blood, Grief, and Drug use